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Theory of radar imaging of internal waves

Nature volume 314, pages 245–247 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

Radar images taken over ocean areas, in particular, those obtained by the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) onboard the American Seasat satellite in 19781,2, sometimes show features that seem to be surface manifestations of oceanic internal waves3–11. Here I present a theory explaining the large radar signatures of internal waves in which the imaging is attributed to variations in the short-scale surface roughness induced by current variations associated with internal waves.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Meereskunde, Universität Hamburg,

    Werner Alpers

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Bundesstrasse 55, 2000, Hamburg, 13, FRG

    Werner Alpers

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  1. Werner Alpers
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Alpers, W. Theory of radar imaging of internal waves. Nature 314, 245–247 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/314245a0

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